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{
"id": 867750,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/867750/?format=api",
"text_counter": 160,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Prof.) Jacqueline Oduol",
"speaker": {
"id": 13514,
"legal_name": "Jacquiline Adhiambo Oduol",
"slug": "jacqueline-adhiambo-oduol"
},
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this Motion. I support the Motion and congratulate the Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing for coming up with this Report and enabling us get bilateral air service agreements between Kenya, Jordan, Jamaica and Bahamas. As I support, I am aware that this is in keeping with national development which is the ability to improve social welfare. This is in regard to not only social amenities and quality education, but also issues on transportation. As I support this Motion, I want to agree with all the hon. Members that opening the air space will not only improve business, but will allow for more tourists to come in and, therefore, increase revenue. However, I must point out that, as we open the air waves and seek to improve, we want to serve, promote and protect the common interests of the Kenyan citizens in there different stages of development and need. I want to observe that, it is important that when we look at the policy framework and the implementation framework and see what we will benefit, we do not confine ourselves to economic costs and see the kind of trade and revenue the tourists will bring, but to also consider the impact that might not be positive if it is not properly mitigated when we have the open air space and more tourists. In particular, I want – and I acknowledge that the Report is timely and relevant – to urge that we ensure that there is a policy action on protecting our vulnerable citizens, especially children, young girls and boys. As we have more room and more developed and advanced ways of exchange, we need to ensure that we have protective measures so that, as tourists come in and Kenyans travel to those countries, they are not exposed to harmful practices as we have seen sometimes that range from trafficking and child abuse. At times, the perception that young people have is that when you go to another country, you will definitely be advanced. At times, they end up in activities and ways that are not supportive of their welfare. As a country, in terms of looking at our preparedness, we should not just think of the business framework. In our negotiations, we should not only talk about what we are going to get in terms of economic and monetary value. We must also think of our human capital, our children, our youth and our women. We must also seek to ensure that the policies that are in place to protect our nationals are implemented. Where they are not available or where there are insufficient infrastructural arrangements to keep our young people contented and aware of our values so that they do not get in to the habit of copying and imitating others, we ensure that, that does not happen. I want to urge that we should remember, as a country, that it is important that a sense of identity and cultural values will enable us to compete in any front in any way with any other country, including on the business front. We, therefore, need to get back and look at our cultural framework particularly, our values and the way in which we teach our children to get a sense of national ethos - who they are and what it is that our country has. So, as they exchange and The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}